The five-hour operation in April was complicated by a huge blood clot at the base of the brain. Surgeons drained the clot and implanted a metal clamp reconnecting Timothy’s spine and skull.

One of the doctors who treated the boy, Robert Spetzler of the Barrow Neurological Institute, said in April that that Timothy was ″an absolute miracle child″ and that ″by all rights he should be dead.″

Timothy will wear a ″halo″ brace to keep his head and neck in alignment for another three weeks to a month, doctors said. His neck movement will be limited permanently to about 50 percent of normal because of the clamp.